Radiator valve



11g 9, 1932- c. G. THIBQDEAU 1,370,300

RADIATOR VALVE Filed Sept. 28', 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet ug- 9, 1932 c. G. THlBoDr-:AU 1,870,300

RADIATOR VALVE4 Filed Sept. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1932 Unire PAFINT FFIQ CHRISTOHER G. THIBODEAU, OF ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSCTNOR OF ONE- HEJJF TO FRANK W. ZNN, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS RADIATOR VALVE Application filed September 28, 1931.

This invention relates to a radiator valve control-led by a thermostat within the valve casing toY provide an outlet for the escape of cold fluid, such as air from a radiator, and

close the outlet to prevent the escape of hot fluid, suoli as steam or vapor after the air has been expelled.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, and ellicient valve, adapt- 1 0l ed to be quickly closed by the action of hot fluid, and prevent the escape of such fluid after the discharge of accumulated air.

The term fluid used herein, is intended to mean either air, steam, vapor, or v-f'ater.

Gf the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-

Figure l is a sectional view of a valve embodying the invention, showing the valve conditioned to permit the passage of fluid therethrough, parts being shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the valve conditioned to prevent the passage of fluid through it.

y Figure 3 is a plan view, and edge view of the inlet valve.

Figure 5 is plan view, and Figure 6 an edge view of the inlet valve flexing member hereinafter described.

Figure 7 is a top planview, and Figure 8 an edge view of the thermostat without the flexing member.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the guide constituting an element of the valve outlet.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing a modification.

Figures 11 and 12 are sectional views showing another and the preferred, embofjliment of the invention.

Figure 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a section on line ler-14 of Figure 11.

The same reference ch aracters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

I will first describe the embodiment shown by Figures 1 to 10 inclusive.

rlhe casing of the valve includes a bottom portion 12, constituting the lower end, and a top portion 13, constituting the upper end,

Figure d an Serial No. 565,419.

these portions being separably connected at 14. The casing has at its lower end an inlet adapted to communicate with a heating system, said inlet including the bore of a nipple 15 on the bottom portion, and a chamber 16 in said portion, one end of said chamber being surrounded by an annular fiat valve seat 18.

rEhe casing has an air outlet at its upper end, preferably including a hollow nipple 19 on the upper end of the top portion, having a vent 20, and a fixed tubular guide 21 provided with an upper valve seat 22, and inlet orifices 21a below the valve seat.

23 designates a flexible diaphragm constituting an inlet valve bearing loosely at its margin on the flat valve seat 18, and adapted to be forced upward therefrom and opened by fluid admitted through the inlet and thereby permit the automatic discharge of air from a radiator of the heat-ing system. An inlet valve flexing member supporting the thermostat hereinafter described, rests loosely on the inlet valve and is vertically movable in the casing. Said flexing member shown separately by Figures 5 and 6, has a substantially rectangular flange portion 24, whose corners areguided by an annular internal surface 25 of the base, the straight edges between said corners providing passages for the upward flow of fluid across the margin of the flange. Said flange overhangs the circular body 26 of the flexing member, which has a convex bottom face 27, adapted to bear on the central portion of the inlet valve 23 and flex said portion, to a concave convex form as shown by Figure 2. Surrounding the face 27 is an annular ridge 28, adapted to press the marginal portion of the inlet valve against the seat 18, as shown by Figure 2. The described flexure of the inlet valve causes the latter to have a vacuum maintaining Contact with its seat.

8O designates a carrier vertically movable in the casing and having an outlet valve 31, slidable in the guide 2l and adapted to close on the valve seat 22, as shown by Figure 2. The carrier is preferably a hollow cylinder of sheet metal hernietically closed, and its function in this instance is to support the outlet valve 31 and transmit motion from the thermostat, next described, thereto.

lnterposed between the inlet valve 23 and the carrier is a thermostat, which is preferably a strip composed of different metals, such as brass and steel, and is expansible by heat, the strip being preferably coated by tin. The strip is bent to form a helix having a flat side composed of the midlength portion 32 of the strip, and flat arms composed of the end portions 33, 33 of the strip. The midlength portion 32 bears on the upper side of the flexing member 26. lVhen the thermostat is in its normal contracted condition, or in other words, is not expanded by heat, the end portions or arms are in the same plane and bear on the flat lower end of the carrier 30, as shown by Figure l, the outlet valve 31 being opened.

When the thermostat is expanded by heat, the arms 33 are oppositely inclined and raise the carrier so that the outlet valvev is closed,

shown by Figure 2, at the same time.

The expansion of the thermostat presses the flexing member 26 downward, so that said member presses the flexible inlct valve 23 against its seat, and holds it closed. The arrangement is such that heat admitted through the inlet, the thermostat being contracted, first raises and opens the inlet valve 23, and then expands the thermostat, thereby causing the flexing member 26 to press the inlet valve firmly against its seat and the carrier to close the outlet valve.

The time required to expand the thermostat and` close the outlet valve is suilicient to permit the expulsion of substantially all cold or cool air through the vent 20 before said valve is closed.

Vacuum caused in the heating system after the above-described operation confines the inlet valve 23 on its seat until heat is again admitted at the inlet. The flexible inlet valve is more flexible at its margin than at its central portion. This increased flexibility may be provided by notches 35, preferably ten in number, in its periphery, although the valve may be otherwise rendered flexible, as by forming grooves therein.

The flexibility of the marginal portion of the valve 23 is such that said portion is adapted to be closely pressed against and conformed to the seat 18 and create a fluid-tight joint. The notches 35 permit fluidV to flow freely across the periphery of the inlet valve 23 when the latter is not pressed by the expanded thermostat against its seat.

The thermostat and the flexing member 26 constitute heat responsive means interposed between the inlet valve and the carrier 30 for simultaneously exerting upward pressure on the carrier and downward pressure on the inlet valve, the function of the flexing member being to impart a concavo convex form to said valve. The carrier 30 is provided with a downwardly projecting spindle 37, which is movable in and vertically guided by an orifice 38 in the thermostat, and an orifice 39 in the flexing member. The outlet valve 3l is formed on the upper end of a spindle 31a, projecting upwardly from the carrier 30 and vertically movable in the guide 21. The carrier is therefore guided at both ends so that it cannot be displaced sidewise.

4() designates a stud fixed to the bottom of the casing and arranged to limit the downward flexure of the inlet valve 23, when said valve is held down by a partial vacuum in the system.

As shown by Figure 10, the valve seat 18 may be provided with an annular groove 41, forming one side of a thin annular valve seat portion 42, adapted to facilitate the fluid tight closure of the inlet valve 23.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown by Figures 11 to 14 inclusive the casing is subdivided by a partition 44 into an upper chamber 45 and a lower chamber 46. A duct 47 formed in the center of the partition constitutes an inlet for the upper chamber and an outlet for the lower chamber, said duct being hereinafter called the secondary inlet.

The casing has a primary inlet communicating directly with the lower chamber 46 and including the nipple, said primary inlet communicating with the heating system as before described.

With the upper chamber are associated the nipple 19 and the guide 2l having the outlet valve seat 22. The upper chamber contains the outlet valve 31, the flexible inlet valve 23, the thermostat, and each of the other elements cooperating with the inlet and outlet valves as before described, excepting the carrier 30. The stem 31 of the outlet valve 3l is directly supported by the thermostat' and constitutes the means for transmitting motion from the thermostat to the oulet valve 31. The operation, so far as the upper chamber 45 and the parts associated therewith are con` cerned, is the same as before described.

The lower chamber 46 is adapted to receive water of condensation that may pass through the primary inlet, and is provided 4with means for preventing such water from entering the upper chamber 45 and escaping from the outlet thereof, said means including a float 48 adapted to be raised by water entering the lower chamber, a valve 49 having a stem 50 fixed to the float, and a seat 51 for said valve in the duct 47.

Water entering the lower chamber raises the Hoat before it can rise to the duct 47, and thereby closes the valve 49 on its seat.

The duct- 47 extends through a guide 52 on the partition 44, the valve stem 50 being movable in said guide.

In the lower portion of the chamber 46 is fixed a baille plate 53 of larger area than the bottom of the float, and adapted to prevent a gaseous fluid entering the lower chamber from raising the float, the latter being supported by the baffle plate with the valve 49 normally open. The lower end of the float is guided by a spindle 54 fixed to the bottom of the float and movable in a central hole in the baille plate.

To fix the baffle plate to the casing and space its margin from the inner wall of the lower chamber, I provide the margin of the plate with ears 55 which are forced into binding contact with the inner wall of the lower chamber and abut a shoulder 56 in the bot` tom portion l2 of the casing.

The thermostat is inverted from the position sho-wn by Figures l and 2, so that its flat side 32 forms a suitable support for the outlet valve stem 31a said stem having a spindle 57 movable in the orifices 38 and 39 in the therinostat and in the inlet valve flexing member.

The partition 44 has a. central depression 58 (F ig. ll) in its upper side, into which the flexible inlet valve 28 is flexed when the thermostat is expanded, as shown by Figure l2.

The top of the upper chamber may be formed by a removable cover 59 having a downwardly projecting annular flange 6() constituting a stop which limits the upward movement of the flexing member. It will b'e seen that the lower chamber 46 is in constant communication with the primary inlet so that water accumulating in the lower chamber is drained into the heating system.

It will be seen that the flexible discoidal inlet valve 23 when flexed by the flexing member 26 becomes concavo convex, and is bulged into the opening or chamber surrounded by the annular valve seat 18. A Zone of the valve is therefore caused to conform so closely to the inner margin of the valve seat that an absolutely hermetic seal is formed, preventing the upward passage of fluid through the valve seat and enabling the valve 23 to subsequently maintain a vacuum in the system. The parts which meet to form said seal are metallic and therefore durable, so that long continued operation of the valve does not impair the tightness of the seal.

I claim:

l. A radiator valve comprising a casing having an inlet communicating with a heating system, and including an annular inlet valve seat, and an outlet having an outlet valve seat, an upwardly opening flexible discoidal inlet valve bearing loosely at its margin on said annular seat and adapted to be raised therefrom by fluid pressure admitted through the inlet, an outlet valve adapted to close on the outlet valve seat, and heat responsive means interposed between the inlet and outlet valves and normally contracted to support the outlet valve open and the discoidal valve free to be opened by incoming fluid under pressure, said means including an inlet valve flexing element and being expaning system andi including an annular inletvalve seat, and' a-n outlet. having an outlet val-ve seat, an upwardly opening flexible discoidal inlet valve bearing loosely at its margin onsaid annular valve seat and adapted toA bel raised therefrom and opened by pressure admitted through the inlet, an inlet valve flexing member bearing loosely on the inlet valve and vertically movable in the casing, an. outlet valve adapted to close on the outlet valve seat, a thermostat bearing on said flexing member, and means for transmitting motion from the thermostat to the outlet valve, said thermostat being normally contracted to support the outlet valve in adep-ressedope-n position and the inlet valve free to be opened?, thel thermostat being expansible by heat to exert upward pressure on andthereby close the outlet valve, and downward pressure on the inlet valve flexing member te conform the inlet valve'- to its seat, the arrangement being suchthat heat admitted through the inlet when the thermostat is contracted, first opens the inlet' valve, and then expands the thermostat, thereby causing the flexing member to closely conform the inlet valve to its seat, and closing theoutlet valve, the conformed inlet valve being confined on its seat by vacuum inl they heating system until vacuum breaking pressure is again admitted at the inlet.

8. A radiator valve as specified by claim l, the inlet valve having meansincreasingA the flexibility of its marginal portion, and permitting fluid to flow-freely across its periphery.

4. A radiator valve asspecified by claim 2,

the inlet valve flexing member having a. perimeter guided by the casing and formed to permit fluid to flow across it.

5. A radiator valve as specified by claim 2,

the inlet valve flexing member having a perimeter guided by the casing and formed to permit fluid to flow across it, a convex bottom face bearingA on the central portion of the inlet valve,l and adapted to downwardly flex said portion, and an annular clamping ridge surrounding the convex face, and adapted to clamp the marginal portion of said valve against its seat.

6. A radiator valve as specified by claim 2, the outlet valve having a downwardly proj ecting stem movable in orifices in the thermostat and flexin member to prevent lateral displacement o the carrier thermostat and exin member. 5 7. radiator valve as specified by claim 2, the thermostat being helical and having a flat midlength portion, and flat arm portions. said arm portions being in the same plane when the thermostat is contracted and oppostely lo inclined and caused to raise the outlet valve when the thermostat is expanded.

8. A radiator valve comprising a casing subdivided by a partition into an upper and a lower chamber, said upper chamber having a secondary inlet in said partition, and an outlet having an outlet valve seat, the lower chamber having a primary inlet communieating with a heating system, the secondary inlet being surrounded by an inlet valve seat, the upper chamber having an outlet and an outlet valve seat, and upwardly opening flexible inlet valve bearing loosely at its margin on the secondary inlet valve seat, and adapted` to be raised therefrom by fluid pressure admitted through the secondary inlet, an outlet valve adapted to close on the outlet valve seat, heat responsive means in the upper chamber interposed between the inlet and outlet valves, and normally contracted to support ,the outlet valve open and the inlet valve free to be opened by incoming fluid under pressure said means being expansible by heat to close the outlet valve and confine the inlet valve on its seat, means being provided for transmitting motion from said heat responsive means to the outlet valve, the lower chamber being provided with a float having a valve adapted to close the secondary inlet when water accumulates in the lower chamber, said chamber being in con-stantcommunication with the primary inlet for drainage. 9. A radiator valve as specified by claim S, the lower chamber being provided with a fixed baffle plate interposed between the primary inlet and the bottom of the float, to prevent movement of the float by gaseous fluid entering the chamber.

10. A radiator valve as specified by claim 8, the partition having a central depression in its upper side into which the flexible inlet valve is flexed when the heat responsive means is expanded.

11. A radiator valve as specified by claim 8, the upper chamber having a cover provided with a downwardly projecting stop arranged to limit the upward movement of the said flexing member.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CHRISTOPHER G. THIBODEAU. 

